Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Soil Health Card Scheme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 February 2015 launched the nationwide Soil Health Card Scheme in Suratgarh town of Sriganganagar district, Rajasthan. The nationwide scheme will help farmers to scientifically analyse the soil of farms in the country.

The scheme aims at helping farmers in improving productivity by appropriate use of nutrients or fertilisers.

Under the plan, 14 crore Soil Health Cards will be issued to farmer of the country in a span of 3 years. Around 3 crore farmers will be covered under the project in financial year 2014-15.

Feature of the Soil Health Card
• It would contain all basic information and crop-wise recommendations of nutrients or fertilizers required for farms of different soil types.
• It will carry crop-wise recommendation of fertilizers required for farm lands and other inputs to increase the productivity of individual farmer.

Government's step to issue soil health cards to farmers will ensure that they are aware of the quality of soil and use right fertilisers. Also, the scheme will help in keeping a check on overuse of fertilisers on farm land and will be provided to over 14 crore farmers.

Apart from this, the Prime Minister also gave a slogan Swasth Dharaa Khet Haraa (Healthy Earth Green Farm). He also asked states to set up high-powered expert committees on agriculture and asked farmers to take agricultural decisions after getting their soil tested under the Soil Health Card scheme.

Background
The Soil Health Card scheme was announced in the first budget presented by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in July 2014. The finance minister allotted a budget of 100 crore rupees for issuing cards and an additional 56 crore rupees to set up 100 mobile soil testing laboratories across India.